Hannah is Potty Trained!!

About a month ago, Hannah said, "Me pee in the potty." She had a week where she would go in her diaper and in the toilet. Then, the next week she used the potty all week. I will have to say that not one time did I have to remind her or ask her if she wanted to "go potty". She decided on her own and she trained herself. I have never seen a child do this before.

After she was going to pee-pee in the potty during the day, we put on her big girl panties. She had one poop accident in them that week then started asking for a diaper when she needed to poop. She would put on her diaper, poop and then say that she needed to be changed. At this point, I would tell her, "Big girls go poop in the potty." She would say that she was a big girl. I would tell her, "No, big girls don't poop in diapers. You will be a big girl one day." Then last week, she had another accident in her panties. This time I took her to the bathroom with me and showed her how to clean her panties in the toilet. I told her that next time she pooped in her panties that she was going to stick her hand in the toilet and clean them. The next day, she pooped in the potty. She got lots and lots of Big Girl complements. Then, she had another day of asking for the diaper. The following day, she pooped in the potty and she has done this all week with NO accidents.



She is still wearing pull-ups at night but I have to say that she wakes up around 11:00 and tells me that she has to potty and then gets back in her bed. She wakes up dry most mornings.



Way to go Hannah!!! You Are A Big Girl NOW!!!

Now, if she could just learn how to apply makeup!! (Hannah and her friend, Abby, decided to play makeup.)

Home Educating All 7

Last week, Andrew finished his 2008/2009 school year. Sierra will finish this week. However, yesterday I started our 2009/2010 homeschooling year with ALL 7 of the children. We have decided to do a preschool program with Hannah-Faith and Joshua, a special needs program for Katie (she will also participate with the preschool program.), and the other children will be in grades 1st, 3rd, and 8th. Because of Andrew's learning difficulties, he will be in different grade levels according to subject.

I realize that home educating 7 is going to be a challenge but with God's Grace I am sure we will make it through.

Jacob, on the other hand, was not as positive. He didn't want to be home schooled. He said that he would be getting on the bus and going to school. You see, Jacob has several issues on why he will not like school at home. The first is that "I can not do what I want at home." The second is that Jacob has a gift of talking children into bringing him "delicious" snacks. (We don't allow a lot of junk food in our house. Jacob is having withdrawals since school has been out.) He misses his partner in crime - Kenny.

Well after we did our lessons today, the children were allowed to get in our swimming pool. I made the comment to Jacob. "Jacob, how was school today? I don't think at your old school that you got to do your lesson and then go swim. Homeschooling is pretty cool -- don't you think." Jacob didn't miss a second with his reply. "Yea, if I had only thought to bring home that big box of chocolate balls it would be cool." I just had to laugh.

Maybe tomorrow, I should give him a piece of chocolate when he finishes his lessons!!!

This is the look Jacob gives when he doesn't want to do something that you ask him to do. On this day, he was playing in the creek and he didn't want his picture taken. I am looking forward to teaching Jacob more than anyone else. I just know within a few weeks, he is going to loving learning!!

Our Bus Has Arrived!!

Somewhere around the first of May, Jeff said that he thought it would be neat if we owned a RV where we could "camp" once the new four children were adopted.

Backing up for a moment.... When Andrew was adopted we took a week long trip to the beach with some friends. We thought that we would do this again but then we priced the hotesl, condominiums, and houses to rent for a week. For a family our size to stay at the beach for a week it was going to cost over $1500.00 JUST FOR A PLACE TO STAY. Of course, this was NOT an option. I just began praying that God would show us what to do as an adoption celebration event. Now... Back to Jeff and his thoughts.

We priced renting RVs and the going rate was $800.00 for the week plus 20 cents a mile. We looked a the prices of RVs just to see what they cost. Well, we were back at the praying stage.

Then about 3 days before Mother's Day, Jeff said, "why don't we get a school bus and turn it into an RV. I have seen people do this when I go to the race." Honestly, I just said that was fine because I didn't know what to say.

Well 3 days later, our friend that lives next door said, "our church/school had an auction yesterday and tried to auction off their bus." I was shocked. I asked her if someone bought it and she replied,"NO." I called Jeff over to where we were talking and we told her about our prayer. We all stood amazed at how God was working.

Jeff got a contact number for the man who was in charge of the bus. After looking at it, making sure that we could park it in our yard, checking with the city on regulations, and moving our fence for the 4th time this year, he brought the bus home.



All of us watch excitedly as Daddy maneuvered the bus down the drive.


There were moments that I didn't think Jeff was going to get this 35 foot bus down our driveway without taking out the mailbox or telephone pole!!

However within a few minutes, the bus was sitting right where God had planned for it to be.

Now, we have a new family project. Turning the bus into an RV.

CHECK BACK FOR DETAILS ON THE PROGRESS

Katie is having surgery

This morning, Katie and I are headed to the Children's Hospital in our area for an EEG. Her Neurologist thinks that she may be having seizures. After the test, we will stay in a hotel for the night. Tomorrow, Katie will be admitted into the hospital to have her tonsils and adenoids removed. She will be in ICU for the night and come home on Thursday.

Check Sierra's Facebook for updated details.

Please pray for us.